Investigative Pieces
Below are some of the analytical stories that I've written that are based on large sets of data.
Please note that most of these stories are behind a paywall. For access, please contact me at elaermer@gmail.com.
Who’s Holding: 10 Fund Shops Most Exposed to Guns
I crunched the numbers to determine the 10 mutual fund providers are most exposed to five of the largest publicly traded gun-related stocks. These ten firms, controlling a combined 89 million shares of these firms. Some, like BlackRock, plan to use their ownership positions to stop gun violence.
What the DOL Share-Class Shuffle Actually Saves Investors
The Department of Labor's fiduciary rule has spawned two new share classes. But certain details about one still remain unknown and it may not actually end up saving investors in the long run. This analysis examines how much investors will pay each year for the new and old types of classes to determine whether the new fund type is actually worth it.
Cutting Fees to Lure Sales? Think Again
Companies constantly trim their prices to make their funds more marketable to investors. But cutting fees doesn't always mean that sales will grow. I analyzed pricing, sales and performance records of thousands of funds to determine that those that cut their fees are no more likely than those that don't to see their sales grow.. This is the first in a five-part series.
Legal Leaders Got C-Suite's Biggest Pay Bumps in 2016
Regulations and broader job responsibilities boosted the median pay for the industry's top legal executives by 12%, to $1.7 million, company filings show. I examined proxies from some of the largest public asset management firms to determine which general counsels and chief legal officers took home the largest paychecks in 2016.
PM Turnover Balloons 34% as Investors Snub Active
In 2016, investors pulled $349 billion out of active mutual funds. Also that year, 2,348 portfolio managers were pulled from active funds' prospectuses, the highest number since at least 2012. I analyzed 25,000 records to determine how and why turnover has accelerated. The first in a three-part series.
Cheapest Index Funds? (Hint: It's Not Vanguard)
Vanguard is known as a low-cost fund provider. However, when it comes to index-tracking products, they're the industry's fifth cheapest. I analyzed fees from thousands of mutual funds to determine that the index products manufactured by Fidelity and BlackRock cost half as much as Vanguard's.